Method of removing trees



April 4, 1961 L. c. PEARCE Y 2,977,716

METHOD oF REMovING TREES Filed Jan. 12. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. C. PEARCE METHOD OF REMOVING TREES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W M M Arran/5K5' April 4, 1961 Filed Jan. l2, 1959 April 4, 1961 L.. c. PEARCE METHOD oF REMovING TREES 5 sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. 12. 1959 JNVENTOR. fw/5 K'. P5426! April 4, 1961 L. c. PEARCE METHOD oF REMovING TREES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1959 INVENToR l iwf 0f/wr! April 4, 1961 L. c. PEARCE METHOD oF REMovING TREES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 12, 1959 l INVENTOR. iw/5 C, ,054255 free being Vwithin the core# United States i d V.2,977,116 d Y.. METHOD oFaRaMQXIN 11: 'Lewis C. Pearce,.BereayOhioQassignorlto Pearce Develgllnlririfnt Company, Cleyielandwghio, .a corporation of rileva .1.2.,^199..s.er .N0-agite `.-1 relatos. .tci'..41.5)

.Ingenerallthe methodaatlaPParfS-of .thire- Sent in.-

4vention may be used intheieriioval .of inafture tiefe,

.aslfor example ranging ,upwardly o thirty, pt eyenlmore ffeet jinlieight. In the'presentinvention, as welll asin Ltlrie'e `removing Imethods heretofore acore o f earth ,isfremoved with the tree; hherQl tlifllfeff fill? .1.1i any tree" tefavel .0p fel- 'tion, it` is essential .that the ctjre of earthbe sufriciently large so that the bulk ofthe root3 structure is removed with the tree, andthat the root structure be undisturbed as the tree is removed.I `Obviouslyfif'insuflicient of the .rOOt .Structure `is removed with .the .tree :the tree will be unable to nourish itself, `,and ,will quickly die. d,rfllsmif the root structure is disturbed, as by undue :relative moyement between `the roots .and thencore of earththe ltiny .root hairs will .pull loose ,from .theroota and, again,.the tree will not be ableto ,nourish itself suticiently.,

AS is l generally known, the bulk of ftheroetetructure of a ytree lies -relativelyfelosely .to .thesurfaee fof thesround. yand fradiates generally outwardly from the .tree filmx over an area roughly` approximate to the yhtnizorital lextent of ,the limb structureof the :t1-ee. `A s aconsequenc'e, -the core of earth4 removed with the Ines? ShOuldhaYe a hQlzontal diameter roughly equal to the diameter of .the .above ground limb `structure of the tree, whih v,will.t hen lensure that sufficient ofthe root structure will be retained withthe tree so `.that the A.tree will not `die.- The depth ofthe core of earthrnecessary to Y.be-removed will `depend `on the type, of` tree and the .nature ofthe soil,

but in most'events fthis ldepth `will be relatively small as compared with thefhorizontal diameter of the ,core

It is the primary object of Athis yinvention to provide a method and apparatus for the ,-removalof trees .wherein `the core of earth retained'with fthe tree is generallycylin? drical, vwith `.the horizontal diameter v,of the .Gylindrical core being greater than `the height' of the core. Another object of the invention is to provide arnetho and apparatus for removing .trees whereimthe tree trunk is maintained in a fixed position .relative to the Ycoreof earth removed therewith to ,prevent the .root-hairs ,fromv being damaged duringfremoval. l

A further object of the inventionfis -to provide a method `and apparatus for removing trees ,wherein `a narrow anlathe .drawings. `.forming-a parmirtliispvleatignfend er.. duilhaufsleeee .therettaso that the trees inay ,b. 1ater',repla,nted.`

2,977`j16 Patent-esl eps:-

'lreeddetail of ,a .modified cable usable i W, 1"`lindercutting vthe soil core. a y 7 ec'tiop in elevation, taken on line 7`f7 of le-14 illustratie@ @able .Sleeve ,earier assembly used "'ir`1`"undercutti'glthesoil 'coref Fig. 48 anhelevationarl sectional view showing the detailsof the'ftren g ,det/Lice used in the invention. Fig.' .9 is ,a oir ofthe `trenching device 4taken Aon rea-aerei Fig. :V1.O`is' nv elevational view of a core lbottom supporting device used for supportingthe undercutsoil core. e111 'is a. ,Pl'l; 'View '0f the cere bttem Supietiiie 'device'.epnn infie- 1'0- Fig. 1'2,`i s' a s'cheirlatic illustration of a manner in which the sorilcoremayv be undercut. l Fig. 13 .is an elevational view illustrating the removal of l,the tree from Athe ground, and showing the use of'a bqttomzplate., V `1e`g.1'4jisa'n elevational view, with parts broken away,

showing a soil. core eneasing device usable intransprtills the fenflved free! l'In general, rthe tree `removal method of the present 'invention accomplished rbyiiirst clearing the ground around the tree to be removed. A soil plate is then placed on the ground, surrounding the trunk of the tree. ",I`he`vso-ilI plate Yis secured to the ground to prevent relative movemerit'between the soil plate and the tree. AAn upstanding vcollar on the `soil plate extends up around the tree t'rur'lkfand is'secured firmly thereto to support Vthe tree relative tothe ground.v TheV soil plate is generally circular, with a diameter generally'equalto the desired diameter of the core of earthto beV removed, and is provided with a series of indexy'or "guide, holes around the periphery thereof. Suitable apparatus is then used in ,conjunction with arid around thl'peip'her'y o f the Asoil' plate to form Va narrow -annjlar treneh'ofa depth approximatelyv equal tothe `1f'1 `e ight"of th'efdesired core to be removed with the tree. After the trr'iclihasy been dug, a cable is placed in the bottom of the trench. The endsof-the cable are then pulled back and forth, in a whipsaw fashion, to completely sever the core in a horiontal plane. The core has now beencompletely cut free from the surrounding earth, and is vcylindricalinshape.

lNext, suitable lsupporting devices are lowered into the trench and inserted in the horizontal cut, underneath the core and around the periphery thereof. The supporting devices are also rigidly secured vto `the `soil plate, around 65 4the periphery thereof.

The soil plate is then lifted vertically `out of the hole, bya suitable fork lift ydevice,'and a protective covering is secured to the bottom Yof the core, as well as to the sdesthereof, if desired, Ato ready the tree .for shipment.

0 T The soil plaie Referring Figs. l, 2 and 4, the segmented soil plate 10 is placed on the ground 11 surrounding the trunk l2 of tree 13. As seen in Fig. 4, the soil plate is comprised of two semicircular segments 14 and 15 which are joined together by lap joints 16 and secured together by bolts 17. As joined, they form a central .opening l'having an intemal diameter appreciably greater than the diameter of Each soil plate segment has a semi-cylindrical collar portion 22 secured rigidly thereto, as by bolts 23, and extending upwardly from the central opening 18 thereof, so that when soil plate segments are bolted together, Athe collar portions 22 will form an upstanding cylindrical collar surrounding the tree trunk 12. The collar segments 22 may be bolted together by bolts 24 to ensure rigidity.

Each collar portion has a plurality of semi-annular inflatable packers 25 secured thereto, one above another, with suitable tire valves 26 supplied for each packer.

Before installing the soil plate 10, the ground around the tree trunk is cleared so that the ground surface is approximately level and free from gross debris. The two soil plate segments are then placed around the tree trunk, and bolted together by bolts 17. Bolts 24 secure the collar segments 22 together. Lifting plates 27 are then secured to the soil plate by bolts 28, at right angles to the juncture lbetween the soil plate segments 14 and 15, which forms the segmented soil plate 10 into a completely rigid member. The pins are then driven into the ground.

The inflatable packers are inated, by a suitable air compressor (not shown), tightly against the tree trunk 12, to hold the tree trunk in rigid relation to the soil plate. Any irregularities in the tree trunk will be compensated for by the fiexibility of these packers and thus the packers can grip the trunk firmly to support the tree relative to the soil plate which, in turn, is rigidly fixed relative to the ground.

The soil plate segments 14 and 15 are chosen in size so that the external diameter of the assembled soil plate 10 is approximately equal to the horizontal diameter of the limb structure of tree 13, thus ensuring that the bulk ofthe root structure 30 of the tree will lie below the periphery of the soil plate and thus will be within the soil core to be removed.

The soil plate 10 is preferably formed from aluminum, or an alloy thereof, so that it will be sufficiently light in weight to permit easy handling. Also, aluminum is resistant to oxidation and will not be adversely affected by contact with the damp soil.

The trenching apparatus After the soil plate 10 is-n place and secured to the tree trunk and ground, the trenching apparatus 35, illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, is employed to dig a narrow Vannular trench of a desired uniform depth around the periphery of the soil plate. i

The trenching apparatus may comprise a post hole digger having a thin walled tubular guide 36, open at lthe lower end thereof and provided with a soil discharge chute 37 at its upper end. A suitable motor 38, gaso- 'line or electrically operated as desired, is secured tothe upper end of guide 36 to drive the auger bit 39 which is A bracket 41, mounted on motor 38, has a T-shaped groove embracing the vertically extending rail 42 which is secured to the soil plate 10 by suitable pins or bolts 43 extending into the guide holes 21 around the periphery of the soil plate. The rail 42 is suficiently high so that the bracket 41 will be engaged therewith when the lower end of the auger rests on the surface of the ground. The rail is provided with a plurality of holes 44 spaced at appropriate distances so that a stop pin 45 may be in- `serted in the rail `at a desired height to arrest downward movement of thev auger to limit the depth of the hole drilled thereby.

As seen in Fig. `9, the diameter of the auger is such that as the guide rail 43 is progressively mounted in successive soil plate index holes 21, the holes 46 drilled by the auger will intersect one another, to form a con tinuous trench 47 around the periphery of the soil plate, and of a depth determined by the setting of the stop pin 45. The soil removed from the trench will be guided away from the trench by the discharge chute 37.

Thus, after the soil plate 10 is installed around the tree trunk 12, the character of the tree and the soil is taken in toY consideration, and the stop pin 45 is set into the proper guide rail hole 44, the rail being fixed to a pair of soil plate guide holes 21. A hole 46 is then drilled, and the auger is removed so that the guide rail can be fixed to another pair of soil plate guide holes. The drilling process is continued until the trench 47 is formed completely around the soil plate.

The undercutting apparatus After the trenching operation is complete, the soil core is undercut, along a plane parallel to the soil plate 10, by the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

A plurality of sheave carrier devices 50, illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, are installed in the trench 47 at preselected points around the periphery ofthe soil plate. EachV sheave carrier device comprises a top plate 51, secured to the soil plate index holes 21 by bolts 52, having an upper tube 53 fixed thereto and depending downwardly therefrom. A lower tube 54 telescopes into the lower end of the upper tube 53 and is secured thereto by bolts 55 extending through the aligned adjustment holes 56 in the tubes.

A rod 57, having la square head 58, extends downwardly through the tubes and is provided with an outwardly extending flange 59 which is supported by the inwardly extending flange 60 of the lower tube. A cable sheave 61 is threaded onto the lower threaded end 62 of rod 57. A downwardly extending retainer skirt 63,

lformed on the lower tube 54, retains cable 64 in place in the groove of the sheave, so that the cable will not accidentally fall of of the sheave.

As is seen in Fig. 7, the overall height of the sheave carrier device is adjusted so that the sheave will be close- 1y adjacent to the bottom of the trench 47.

A cable drive unit 65, illustrated in detail in Figs. l and 3, is also fixedly mounted to the soil plate 10. The cable drive unit includes a base plate 66, mounted to suitable soil plate guide holes by bolts 67, having a depending bracket 68 to which the pulley support bracket 69 is fixedly mounted by bolts 70.

-Two pulleys, 71 and 72, are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis by swivel connections 73 to the lower end of the pulley support bracket 69. Again, suitable aligned adjustment holes 67a are provided in the brackets 68 and 69 so that the pulleys may be spaced at a fixed desired distance below the soil plate 10.

A motor 74, powered by gasoline or electricity as def sired, is mounted on base plate 66, in continual driving engagement with drive shaft 75, through intermeshng bevel gears 76 and 77.

Cable drums 78 and 79 are mounted on drive shaft 75 for free rotation thereon but are restrained from llongitudinal movement relative thereto. The mid-portion scribed,A .the

by `solid of 'sliaftl7v5 .is Vprovided with a plurality of 4longitudinal jsplin' 8K0 which extend through complmenta-ryfgrooves injtli'e hubsfof clutch' plates 81 andLSZ, so that ,the clutch plates `will rotate integrally with theYV drive shaft, but

willbe free `to move longitudinally relative thereto into and out of engagement withthe cable drums.A The interengageable faces of the clutch'plates and cable ,drums -,areprovided with friction plates 83 so that the drumswill ,be rotated by the vdrive shaft when the clutches are pressed ,t thereagainst; Y

A pair of brake plates 84 andS are also freely mounted o`n drive shaft 75.` Pins 86 and 87, mounted iniixed .relation to thebase plate land* extending through vsuitable holes in thebrake plates, prevent relative rotation betweeu the brake plates andthe drive shaft while allowing relative |lor`1git-udinalmoverrlenty therebetween so that the 4brake plates may be ,movedintio engagement with the Icabledrums. Again,jfri'ctionplates V82.5 are fixed'to thel interengaging faces of the t brake plates `and cable drums.

`Amanualoperable reversing `lever 88, pivoted tofthe `.base plate 66 by pivot pin 89, -is ,pivotally connected to connecting rod'90 at 91. A lever 92,*pivotal1y connected 4torodv 90 land base plate 66 by ,pivot pins k93"and 94, respectively, carries `atfits end pin 95 which is received within `groove 96 Hof bijalefplatevfl. 4 BY theabove described linkage, whenever the lever t88 is moved" in'I a clockwise,directionaboutpivot 89, the brake plate 84 will be moved into engagement with cable" drum 78. Conversely, when the lever 88 is moved in a counterclockwisedirection, 'brake fplate `84 will'be moved "away from Qble NH1178- .Levers 97, ,98 and 99 vare similarly connected toconnecting j, 1'od` 9 9 and tothe `clutchf'plates `81 and 82 and brake plate85, respectively. Whenever the lever 88 is moved ina clockwise vdirec :tion,"clutch plate l82 will be 'pres'sedfagainst cable `drum vf79 so that the drum will `beclriven by drive shaft 75, and cable drum'78 will be gbraled by brake `plate w84. An opposite movement of 4-lever 88 will drivingly engage cable drum 78 for rotation ,"sheave'carr1er`,devices`50, whichare lthen spaced around thesoil plate, as, for examplejinthe positionslndicated lines inl Fig. `5. `The cable drive mechanism 65 is'also fixed to the `soil plate, with the Ypulleys 71'a'nd `flwzasshown in Figui The free endsv of the"ca`ble are `then drawn around the 'pulleys upwardly'to .the cable `lvlrums 78 and 79, to which they vare secured,` and :the

motor 74 is put into operation? v l 1 Alternate movem nt of the handle 88 willcause alternateiengagemen't of the drive shaft 'V75 fwththe cable -drms 7s and 79 so that 'the cable 64 win .be pulled 'back and forth around the trench, thus effecting a whipsw action inthe bottom ofthe Seill core. Asihe cable sawsinto the soil core, thelength of the'cable-surrounding the soil core and between pulleys 71 and-72 will diminish, but the braking action of the unclutched cable drum'will allow'the d riven drum to' take up th'e slack. The `brfke plates are adjusted so that when theslack tak-en up, the driven drum may pull cablelfromthe braked drum. i 'As is seen in Fig. 5, when three sheave carrier devices 50 are used, at 90l Vfrom one another around the soil plate, `the maximum ,cut ofthe soil core Vby the cable will .be from its initialposition, indicated at 64a, to its positionshownat 64b. [he undercutting can be carried kolli further. by removing one sheave carrier and by then `using two sheave fdevicesv positioned at 50a in Fig. 5.

The maximum cut will now extend inwardly from the Atrench `tothe position of the cableshown 'at 164e. Fur- 'f'ther' cutting can nowfbe accomplishedby sngo'e sheave `carrier device 50, as, for'example, the one spacedV dimetrically opposite from pulleys 71 and 72. VThe 'undercut cannow extend inwardly to the cable position indicated at 64d. The lremainder of the vundercut can be accomplished by removing the cablefrom the last men- Vtioned sheave, and whipsawing the portionof the core lying between the cable positions indicated'at 64d, until theentire soil core is undercut. t T i "l In removing the cable from each sheave carrier 50, vthe cable is placed under tension so that the 'sheave- 61 will be restrained from rotation. The square-headed rod 57 is nthen unscrewed by a suitable wrench fromthe sheave, allowing the sheave to jfall to the bottom of `the trench, thus freeing the cable therefrom. After thet'ree and soil core are later removed, the sheaves maybe re- 'covered from the hole.

The number of sheaves used to support the cable during this operation will depend largely upon the s oil condition at the depth at which the soil core is to be cut. If the .ground is very hard and/or rocky, it will beadvisable to use at least three sheave devices 50 so' that only a relatively small portion of the cable will be actively engagingvand cutting the core during the whipsaw motion thereof. ,If thesoilis very loose and/ orsandysuch that there is little resistance to cutting, then the sheave devices lmay not be necessary." fIn such case, the cable 64 may be simply laid ,in the bottom of the trench around the soil core and may .bed'riven by the Vcable drive mechanism to whipsaw the rvcore. Fig; `12 illustrates schematicallythe position ofthe `cable 64 as the undercutting progresses. However, in any event, it is `necessary vthat the cable be trained over the pulleys 71 and 72 to retain the `cable in the bottom of the trench so that cutting will take place .in a `horizontal plane. v L 4 The cable 64 has an advantage of ilexibility incase relatively small rocks are encountered, in that the cable can slip over or under therock during the cutting, s

Fig. 6 illustrates a modiiied cable, 64', which may be used in instances requiring 4an increased cutting action. A plurality of beads 103, having outwardly extending `flanges provided with sharp shoulders 104, `are secured around the cable 64. As the cable moves back and forth, the shoulders 104 will have a much greatervabrading elect on the soil core than will the cable alone, and the undercutting will be greatly facilitated.

After the undercutting operation has been completed, the sheave carrier devices 50 and cabledrive mechanism 65 are all dismantled from the soil plate 10.

Bottom supporting mechanism After completion of the undercutting operation, the ,severed soil core is bottom supported by the support apparatus illustrated in Figs. 9 land 10. f

The core bottom support apparatus comprises a base plate 111 adapted to be secured to the soil plate index holes 21 by bolts 112. Alskirt 113 depends downwardly from base plate 111 to engage the side of the trench Vadjacent thek soil plate to help retain the integrity of the soil core when it is removed.

The outer portion of base plate 111 lras a threaded hole therethrough in which is threaded an elongated pipe collar 114. A vertically disposed rod, or tube, extends downwardly through the collar 114 and is provided at its end with a horizontal support plate 116. The upper end of tube 115 is provided with la plurality of vertically spaced holes 117.

In operation, the support apparatus 110 is bolted to the soil plate, with the support plate 116 disposed-inthe bottom of' the Atrench 47 as shown by solid lines in Fig. ll. A bar 113 is then inserted through a set of the tube holes 117 and the tube is twisted manually so' as to v.force the support plate 116 into the previously undercut kerf, -so vthat the support members will be in the dotted .line

position thereof in Fig. 1l.L A suitable retainer rod or pinV 119 is inserted through suitable holes 117 and the pipe collar 114 is screwed upwardly until it engages the Yretainer pin, as shown in Fig. 10. In this position, the support plate 116 will be prevented from moving downwardly relative to the soil plate during the removing operation and will firmly support the soil core against the soil plate 10.

`Althoughthe support plate 116 has been illustrated as being rectangular in shape, it is to be realized that it could be curved, with a radius of curvature approximately equal to the radius of the trench 47. In such case the support plate 116 couldl be made longer, and when swung under the soil core would extend further towards the center of the soil core to increase the supporting effect.

After a suflicient number of bottom supporting devices 1*'10 have been installed, the tree 13 and soil core surrounding its roots are ready to bc removed.

Removing and transporting apparatus The apparatus for and operation of removing the tree 13 from the ground is illustrated in Fig. 13.

Lifting hooks 121 are attached to the apical holes 122 of the lifting plates 27 bolted to the soil plate, and are hooked around the lifting tines 123 of a suitable forklift truck 124.

The lift truck then lifts the entire tree, soil plate and soil core vertically upwardly to remove the tree from the ground. The soil plate pneumatic collar 22, due to its firm gripping engagement with the tree trunk 12, helps to prevent the soil core from pulling away from the soil plate, which pulling away is also prevented by the core bottom support plates 116.

Although the central portion of the bottom of the soil core is unsupported from beneath by the support plates 116, the integrity of the soil core thereat is maintained by the root structure so that there is Vno undue loss of soil from the core during the lifting operation.

During the removal operation, the pneumatic soil plate collar 22 helps support the tree vertically and thus greatly reduces any tendency for the tree to move or sway rela tive to the soil core, thereby preventing the root hairs from tearing from the root structure.

After removal, a bottom plate 125, made from plywood or any other suitable material, is bolted to the outer edges of the bottom support plates 116 by bolts 126 which extend through holes 127 formed through the outer portions of the support plates. The tree and soil core can now be transported easily without undue fear of damage to lthe tree or loss of soil therefrom.

In the event that the tree may be subjected to fairly rough handling during shipment, the semi-permanent segmented shield 130 may be placed around the soil core. The shield 130 is comprised of a plurality of quarter segments '131, bolted together by bolts 132 to completely surround the soil core. The shield 130 is bolted to the bottom plate 125 as by bolts 133, and extends upwardly around the soil core. The soil plate may be removed, if desired, to be used for another tree removing operation. When so assembled, the soil core is completely enclosed at the sides and bottom thereof bythe shield 130 and bottom plate 125 so as to be protected against damage. In addition, the shield 130 will prevent the soil from drying out so that there is little fear of the trees dying from lack of moisture.

In replanting the tree, a suitable hole is dug, and the tree and soil core are placed therein by a process generally the reverse of that previously described. If

desired, the plywood bottom plate 125 could be left on the bottom of the soil core, as it will eventually rot away. Also, the plywood bottom plate could be perforated if plate 10 ensures that the trenching, undercutting, bottom supporting and lifting operation can be carried out easily. In addition, the soil plate protects the top of the soil core during these operations, since it aids greatly in preventing the top of the core from crumbling into the ditch 47 by distributing the weight of workmen or the like thereon over a large surface area. t

It is to be realized that the invention shown and described above is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f l

l. In a method of removing a mature tree Vfrom ground, the steps of: forming an annular trench in the ground around the tmnk of said tree with the trench having a diameter sufficient to include the bulk of the root structure of said tree within the area bounded by said trench and a generally uniform depth suicient to be below the downward extent of the bulk of said root structure, disposing a cable in the bottom of said trench around said tree, fand pulling the cable back and forth under tension to undercut the ground beneath said tree along a generally horizontal plane at a depth equal to the depth of said trench to form a severed generally cylindrical core of earth enclosing the bulk of said root structure. The Vmethod of removing a mature tree from ground comprising forming an annular trench in the ground around the trunk of said tree, disposing a cable in the bottom of said trench around said tree, pulling the cable back and forth under tension to undercut the ground beneath said tree along a generally horizontal plane at a depth equal to the depth of said trench to form a severed generally cylindrical core of earth enclosing the bulk of the root structure of said tree, supporting the bottom of said core of earth and the sides of said core around the periphery thereof from the top of said core, and lifting said tree and core as a unit upwardly out the hole bounded by said trench and undercut.

3. The method of removing a mature tree from ground comprising forming an annular trench in the ground around the trunk of said tree with the trench having a diameter generally equal to the horizontal diameter of the above ground limb structure of the tree, and a generally uniform depth suliicient to be below the downward extent of the bulk of said root structure, disposing a cable in the bottom of said trench around said tree with the free ends of said cable adjacent to one another, pulling the cable back and forth under tension to undercut the ground beneath said tree along a generally horizontal plane at a depth equal to the depth of said trench to" form a severed generally cylindrical core Aof earth enclosing the bulk of said root structure, supporting the bottom of said core of earth and the sides of said core around the periphery thereof from the top of said core, supporting the trunk of said tree relative to the top of said core, and lifting said tree and core as a unit upwardly out of the hole bounded by said trench and undercut.

comprising placing a rigid circular plate on the ground around the trunk of said tree with the diameter of said plate being'generally equal to the diameter of the above ground limb structure of said tree, supporting a vertical portion of the trunk of said tree rigidly relative to said plate, forming a trench around the periphery of said plate at a generally uniform depth suicient to -be below the bulk of the root structure of said tree, undercutting the ground beneath said tree in a generally horizontal plane at a depth below the ground surface generally equal to the depth of said trench to form a severed generally cylindrical core of earth enclosing the bulk of said root structure, supporting the bottom and the sides of said severed core around the periphery thereof from said plate, and lifting said plate upwardly to remove said tree and core as a unit from the ground.

' 5. The method of removing a mature tree from ground comprising placing a rigid circular plate on the ground around the trunk of said tree, forming a trench around the periphery of said plate Iat a generally uniform depth, disposing a cable in the bottom of said trench around said tree, pulling the cable back and forth under tension to undercut the ground beneath said tree in a generally horizontal plane at a depth below the ground surface generally equal to the depth of said trench to form a severed generally cylindrical core of earth enclosing the bulk of the root structure of said tree, supporting the bottom and the sides of said severed core around the periphery thereof Vfrom said plate, and lifting said plate upwardly to remove said tree and core as a unit from the ground.

6. The method of removing a mature tree from ground comprising placing a rigid circular plate on the ground around the trunk of Ysaid tree, forminga trench around the periphery of said plate at a generally uniform depth, disposing a cable in the bottom of `siad trench around said tree, supporting said cable from said plate at predetermined points around the periphery of the bottom of said trench from said plate, pulling the cable back and forth under tension around the supported points thereof to undercut the ground beneath said tree in a generally horizontal plane at a depth below the ground surface generally equal to the depth of said trench, removingv said cable from its supported points, and continuing the pulling of said cable back and forth undertension to form a severed generally cylindrical core of earth enclosing the bulk of the root structure of said tree.

7. The method of removing a mature tree from ground comprising placing a rigid circular plate on the ground surrounding the trunk of said tree with the diameter of said plate being generally equal to the diameter of the above ground' limb structure of said tree, supporting a 1g vertical portion of the trunk of said tree rigidly relative to said plate, forming a trench around the periphery of said plate at a generally uniform depth sucient to be below the bulk of the root structure of said tree, disposing a cable in the bottom of said trench around said tree, supporting said cable from said plate at predetermined points around the periphery of the bottom of said trench, pulling the cable backV and forth under tension around the supported points thereof to undercut the ground beneath said tree in a` generally horizontal plane at a depth below the ground surface generally equal to the depth of saidftrench, removing said cable from its supported points, continuing the pulling of said cable back and forth under tension to form a severed generally cylindrical core of earth enclosing the bulk of said root structure, supporting the bottom and the sides of said l severed core around the periphery thereof from said plate,

and lifting said plate upwardly to remove said tree and core as a unit from the ground.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Publication: Farmers Bulletin 1591, published August 1929 by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., entitled Transplanting Trees and Shrubs, pages 21 through 34 relied on. 

